ARTETA’S SHOW OF STRENGTH

MIKEL ARTETA intends to field strong line-ups throughout Arsenal’s European campaign as he views it as a passport into the Champions League.

But the Gunners boss will have to make changes for the Europa League opener with FC Zurich tomorrow night because of a mounting injury list.

Arsenal missed out on strengthening the squad further in the transfer window which leaves them short of numbers and options for a gruelling fixture list this season.

However, Arteta is determined to win the group – which also features PSV Eindhoven and Bodo/Glimt – as that means they miss the round of 32 and go straight into the last 16.

There is also the added incentive of a trophy at stake and passport into Europe’s top competition which is Arsenal’s main focus this season. The Gunners have already been made favourites to win the Europa League with many bookies.

Arteta (above) does face injury worries in midfield with Thomas Partey set to miss out this week and Mohamed Elneny facing a lengthy lay-off with a hamstring issue.

But Arsenal will take a strong squad to Switzerland and, while they may rest and rotate players at times, the overall intention is to go stronger than some big clubs have done in the Europa League.

There is a major European trophy at stake and Arsenal’s squad – which was named on Monday – features all of the big guns and includes all five new signings: Matt Turner, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Fabio Vieira, Marquinhos and Gabriel Jesus.

Elneny and Partey were also included in the squad, with the latter hoping to return to training this week, while the Ghana midfielder is hoping to be back before this month’s international break.

Partey has also been named in Ghana’s 29-man squad for friendly matches against Brazil and Nicaragua on September 23 and 27 respectively.

That may not please Arsenal who are anxious to ease Partey back to fitness. The Gunners will not rush his return because of his previous injury issues but it does indicate he is close to a comeback.